Andy Murray followed fellow Australian Open finalist Na Li into the semifinals at Roland Garros and therefore earned, like her, a first-time promotion to Ozeki (=Champion)--the second highest sanyaku (=Championship) rank.
While Li seemed a plausible but not inevitable Ozeki candidate before this tournament, Murray had been at the edge of Ozeki since 2008, but failed to get the series of two-to-three strong grand slam tournaments together that is needed for an Ozeki promotion. In the meantime, players like Juan Martin del Potro or Tomas Berdych leapfrogged Murray, although their career achievements to date have arguably not lived up to those of the Scotsman.
But now Murray is there: the 30st male Ozeki of the open era, and the first Brit (among the men--Britain has already three female career-high Ozeki in Ann Haydon-Jones, Virginia Wade, and Sue Barker). And indeed, it makes more sense seeing Murray on a list with the likes of Pat Cash, Patrick Rafter or Andy Roddick--all fellow career-high Ozeki--than with the career-high Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) Roger Taylor, Greg Rusedski or Arnaud Clement.
Welcome, champ. However, in Ozumo Ozeki are expected to win a major tournament at least once during their careers. So this is what should come next.
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